Subpleural fat pads in patients exposed to asbestos: distinction from non-calcified pleural plaques

Thirty patients with known asbestos dust exposure were studied because of uncertainty as to whether or not the pleural changes observed on the radiographs were due to plaques or subpleural fat. The CT scans confirmed that the changes were due to subpleural fat in 14 cases (48%). Characteristic subpleural fat shadows on radiographs and CT scans are described, and the importance of differentiating fat from plaques for medico-legal reasons is emphasized.